Spurs Game Grades - Game #4: Spurs @ Knicks -- Mon. (11/2)

[Roger Freemason Jr.]

West is not a concern. He's 4 games into the season, on limited minutes. Pop is and will be working out rotations until the very end of the season, but by the all-star break, West will have found his role and will play it swimmingly.

[SAGirl]

Very good points, it is indeed hard for him to be at his best in these conditions. His "youngness" is holding him back for now but I like what I see and I'm confident for the rest of the season.
I can compare his situation to the Mc Dermott's one in Chicago in the way that he has shown promising things but looks a little shy, tentative in his behavior, trying not to make mistakes. Mc Dermott's role may be more important though. These kids are young and in a team full of veterans it's never easy.

McDermott will always have his 3pt. shot to get him playing time. He probably needs to fill in the rest of his game, but he can shoot. What Kyle can do at an elite level is more subtle and yet, as Diaw has proven, can unlock possibilities that make your offense much more efficient and run better.

Many fans question his fit with the second unit to a degree, but that is only bc Manu and Diaw are such terrific passers that his skill, when everyone is healthy and clicking is not needed. I feel like he can provide more things to the starters, as they tend to let the ball stick a whole lot if Tony is in a passive state.

Even then, Manu's current play time rate is unlikely to be sustained for a full season. Kawhi and Danny are not playmakers, Patty has improved a whole lot, but you want him off the ball a lot more for his shooting and spacing, etc.

Yea right now UNT and others can say that what Kyle brings is redundant if you have a healthy Tony/Manu for a full season. Simply put when fully healthy and clicking Anderson may seem redundant, but in the long run he is not. He's a terrific passer and a good midrange shooter. Hopefully he plays well when we need him.

[tonight...you]

McDermott will always have his 3pt. shot to get him playing time. He probably needs to fill in the rest of his game, but he can shoot. What Kyle can do at an elite level is more subtle and yet, as Diaw has proven, can unlock possibilities that make your offense much more efficient and run better.

Many fans question his fit with the second unit to a degree, but that is only bc Manu and Diaw are such terrific passers that his skill, when everyone is healthy and clicking is not needed. I feel like he can provide more things to the starters, as they tend to let the ball stick a whole lot if Tony is in a passive state.

Even then, Manu's current play time rate is unlikely to be sustained for a full season. Kawhi and Danny are not playmakers, Patty has improved a whole lot, but you want him off the ball a lot more for his shooting and spacing, etc.

Yea right now UNT and others can say that what Kyle brings is redundant if you have a healthy Tony/Manu for a full season. Simply put when fully healthy and clicking Anderson may seem redundant, but in the long run he is not. He's a terrific passer and a good midrange shooter. Hopefully he plays well when we need him.

Right now his biggest hurdle in front of him is staying mentally strong and focused after the quick hooks he's been receiving from Pop.
If he can handle it like Parker when he was young and like Danny, he may just get deeper into this rotation.

Right now he's getting pulled on his first mistakes. Like being placed into the game and the first play off the TO is the Hammer.
He's 3-4 feet out of position and the ball goes out of bounds off his hands. He and Danny? argue for a second over positioning...
Boom: pulled
Only seconds in the game.

Don't see him again... at all for the game? Maybe for some garbage time, or a spot minute here or there, but my point is:
Hopefully he uses those moments as they are intended and doesn't hang his head.
I wonder how Pop is handling this guy's individual psyche right now...

[Cry Havoc]

You're a (a sad and angry one)

It's okay. Reading is hard for some people. I try not to hold grudges against the less fortunate.

[Bender]

It's okay. Reading is hard for some people.

some people should stick to reading twitter-speak.

Great write-up. I watched the entire game, and even though a win, I found it hard to watch sometimes...

[ceperez]

some people should stick to reading twitter-speak.

Great write-up. I watched the entire game, and even though a win, I found it hard to watch sometimes...

Ugly offensive game for the Spurs. Defense with the exception of Aldridge was good.

Aldridge needs to learn from Leonard on how to bring the full package on both ends of the court.

[SPURt]

That Danny Green pic was perfect! Haha! Thanks Cry!

[Cry Havoc]

That Danny Green pic was perfect! Haha! Thanks Cry!

He had some decent defensive moments but he was terrible for the most part on both ends of the ball, and we were generally better off without him. To his credit, he realized he didn't have a shot and took only 6 attempts, which isn't terrible. Maybe I could revise it to a D or a D-.

[spurs10]

Thanks for the write-up! A lot of people have commented on how unwatchable the game was, but I really enjoyed seeing us able to get a basket when we needed one. Kawhi has arrived, LMA is a great addition, and the Big 3 finally have some real strength around them. This is the Big 5 a far as I can see.

[EVAY]

I sure hope you are right. And I will be happy as a lark if you are. I remember when I would cringe when Danny and/or Kawhi would try a fast break because you just knew it was going to end up in disaster. They have both proven themselves to be major contributors. I don't expect Anderson to ever be in the bracket of either of those guys, but I hope you are right that he has the potential for a lot of improvement.

FWIW, I really wasn't basing my comments on this season alone. I have seen him play quite a bit, and my biggest concern has always been his relatively slow pace and his relatively high dribble. In a must-win game, those traits will likely be shown up as greater weaknesses than has been the case so far.

He does seem to me to have improved his dribble somewhat. So yes, if he continues to improve, maybe he will be just fine. That would be great.

[ceperez]

Right now his biggest hurdle in front of him is staying mentally strong and focused after the quick hooks he's been receiving from Pop.
If he can handle it like Parker when he was young and like Danny, he may just get deeper into this rotation.

Right now he's getting pulled on his first mistakes. Like being placed into the game and the first play off the TO is the Hammer.
He's 3-4 feet out of position and the ball goes out of bounds off his hands. He and Danny? argue for a second over positioning...
Boom: pulled
Only seconds in the game.

Don't see him again... at all for the game? Maybe for some garbage time, or a spot minute here or there, but my point is:
Hopefully he uses those moments as they are intended and doesn't hang his head.
I wonder how Pop is handling this guy's individual psyche right now...

Pop making sure he goes into the court actively engaged at all times. Hope he learned his lesson!

[ceperez]

Game against Knicks had KA playing in the SG spot in replacement of Green. That could make sense to get better ball distribution. Also with Duncan, Aldridge and Leonard defending the paint, KA can afford to funnel players to the paint.

[Tbiggums47]

Great write up. Need the mature influence on this board more!������